Towel and/or wash cloth storing and holding means



June 27, 1961 A. E. ARNETT TOWEL AND/OR WASH CLOTH STORING AND HOLDING MEANS Filed Oct. 28, 1957 FIG.4

United States Patent 2,990,066 TOWEL AND/R WASH CLOTH STORING AND HOLDING MEANS Alfred E. Arnett, 7600 N. Broadway, Wichita, Kans. Filed Oct. 28, 1957, Ser. No. 692,891 1 Claim. (Cl. 211-106) This invention relates to storing and holding means. In a more specific aspect this invention relates to means for storing folded fabric articles, and for holding same when in use or after use. In a still more specific aspect, this invention relates to means for storing for use cloth articles used to wash and dry the body, namely, wash cloths, hand towels, and bath towels, and to means cooperatively combined to hold such cloth articles while in use or after use, such storing and holding means being particularly adapted for use in the bath room of a motel, hotel, or home.

This is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending application for patent titled Towel and/ or Wash Cloth Holder, Serial No. 485,878, filed February 3, 1955, now Patent No. 2,839,202, issued June 17, 1958.

It is old in the art to make and use rod-type towel racks, where the towels and wash cloths are hung or draped over the rod. Also, ordinary shelves on wall brackets are known and used, such functioning to hold folded wash cloths and towels in stacks thereon. Many disadvantages are experienced in the use of these prior art towel holding means. The chief disadvantage is the fact that a used and wet wash cloth and/or towel will dampen and soil for use other wash cloths and towels when the wet and used ones are placed back on the towel rod or typical shelf. 'Because of this, great additional expense to launder unused but ruined towels and wash cloths is experienced by motels and hotels. The cost of this to a hotel or motel is quite substantial, particularly in the case where a new guest occupies the accommodations making it impossible to leave in the rooms even a slightly damp towel or wash cloth. The usual guest will place a used wash cloth or towel in the most convenient place, and I have invented storing and holding means which in combination provides for storing the fresh wash cloths and towels and for receiving used and wet wash cloths and towels easily and conveniently and out of contact with unused cloths and towels. The new towel and wash cloth storing and holding means of my invention overcomes the difilculties of the devices known in the prior ant. The new means of my invention is easy and inexpensive to manufacture and sell, and is convenient and economical in use. The new towel and wash cloth storing and holding means of my invention is quite attractive in the usual bathroom facility, adding a decorative feature thereto.

The new means of my invention to hold and store cloth articles used to wash and/ or dry the body has a portion disposable in an upright position on a vertical surface. The lower end portion of this portion disposable in an upright position is a horizontally disposed towel bar. A plurality of shelf members are attached to the upright disposable member. They project outwardly therefrom. These shelf members are spaced and are substantially parallel to each other. Of these shelf members, two adjacent ones are spaced apart a distance to snugly receive and hold a relatively small one of the cloth articles to be held in folded condition, for example, a hand towel or a wash cloth. These particular shelf members are spaced apart a distance less than two other adjacent shelf members. These last-named adj acent shelf members are spaced apart a distance to snugly receive and hold folded a relatively large one of the cloth articles, for example, a bath towel. The upright disposable portion of the holding and storing means is provided with enough spaced shelf mem- 2,990,066 Patented June 27', 1961 bers to hold the desired number of wash cloths, hand towels, and/ or bath towels.

It is an object of this invention to provide new combination storing and holding means.

It is another object of this invention to provide new means for the storing of cloth articles having cooperating combination means to hold one of the cloth articles during or after use of same.

Another object of this invention is to provide new means for storing for use cloth articles used to wash and/or dry the body, such as wash cloths, hand towels, and bath towels, and for holding one of such cloth articles during the time of its use or after it is used by an individual, such new storing and holding means being particularly adapted for use in the bath room facilities of a hotel, motel, or home.

Still another object of this invention is to provide new wash cloth and/or towel storing and holding means to eliminate ruining such cloth and/ or towel for use by contact with a used, soiled and wet cloth and/or towel.

Other objects and advantages of the new combination storing and holding means for cloth articles of my invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure.

Drawings accompany and are a part of this disclosure. Such drawings depict preferred specific embodiments of the new cloth article storing and holding means of my invention, and it is to be understood that the drawings are not to unduly limit the scope of my invention.

In the drawings, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred specific embodiment of the new wash cloth and towel holder and storing means of my invention wherein ring-shaped shelf members are used.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the device of FIG. 1 with folded towels and wash cloths placed therein, and with a towel hung on the towel bar holder portion of the device.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the upper end portion of the lower detachable bar-type holder means of the preferred specific embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the lower end portion of another preferred specific embodiment of the new towel and wash cloth holder and storer of my invention wherein the lower towel bar portion integrally formed with the vertically disposable upper support portion.

Following is a discussion and description of the new towel and wash cloth storing and holding means of my invention made with reference to the drawings whereon the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts or structure. The discussion and description is of preferred specific embodiments of my invention, and it is to be understood that such is not to unduly limit the scope of my invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the preferred specific embodiment of the new towel and/or wash cloth storer and holder of my invention shown therein is designed to hold three wash cloths, three hand towels, and three bath towels. This is a convenient size, but it has been found satisfactory to make and use any size. A unit to hold up to four of each of the articles has been found desirable for many installations, and individual units designed to hold one of each of the articles can be used, if desired.

A U-shaped member 7 forms the support and mounting portion of the towel storer and holder. It can conveniently be made from relatively large wire stock. Relatively small mounting plates 9 with holes 11 therein are preferably mounted between the spaced legs of member 7 is any suitable manner, such as by welding. These plates 9 provide means to mount the vertically position- 'tageous.

able member 7 on a vertical surface, such as a wall, end of a partition, or the like. It has been found convenient to use a nail, screw, hook, or bolt means, and the like, to mount member 7. Shelves 13 and 15 are mounted on and attached to support rnember 7 in any suitable manner, such as by welding. These shelves 13 and 15 are preferably made ring-shaped, and they can conveniently be made out of relatively heavy wire stock. As shown, these shelves are variably spaced and project outwardly from member 7. Rings 13 are considerably smaller in diameter than rings 15. They are of size and are spaced to snugly receive and hold wash cloths 17 therebetween when the Wash cloths are twice folded. Ring-shaped shelves 15 receive and hold for storing hand towels 19' and bath towels 21 They are twice folded and inserted between the shelf members 15. Shelf members 15 are preferably of size and spaced to snugly receive hand towels 19 and bath towels 21. If desired, the ring-shaped shelves 13 and 15 can be made square, rectangular, oblong, etc. Also, disks or plates instead of the hollow members can be used. I have found it desirable to form the various portions of the towel and/ or wash cloth storer and holder of metal, but plastic materials and/or wood can be used, if desired. The lower end portion of-the new wash cloth and towel holder means of my invention shown in the drawings is a relatively long and horizontally disposed towel bar 23, which is used to receive used wash cloths and towels or used to hold such during their period of use. In FIG. 2 a hand towel 19 is shown draped over the towel holder portion 23. In FIG. 3 is shown the upper end portion of this towel bar member 23. In the embodiment of FIGS. l-3 the horizontal towel bar 23 is conveniently made detachable from the remainder of the device. The upper end portion 25 in mounting fits over the lowerring-shaped shelf member 15, and behind the lower mounting plate 9, so that it is held in position by the lower mounting screw or nail (not shown) which is passed through the aperture 11 in the lower plate 9 to mount member 7 on a vertical wall, and the like. I prefer to make the towel bar member or portion 23 of relatively heavy wire stock. The structural combination of towel storing means and towel holding means during use has proven very advan- It is practically fool-proof, and persons using the device will always place a soiled and wet towel or wash cloth on the towel holder portion 23 rather than even thinking or attempting to place the wet towel back to a shelf 13 or 15 where it will dampen and soil other wash cloths and towels. The preferred specific embodiment of my new towel storer and holder shown in the drawings is particularly advantageously used where there is not an ordinary towel bar available, or where there is a shortage of ordinary towel bars.

In FIG. 4 of the drawings is shown another preferred specific embodiment of structure wherein the horizontally disposed lower towel bar portion 27 is formed integral with the vertically disposable upright portion 29 on which is mounted the spaced shelf members 15. I prefer to form this one piece structure of the upright support 29 and towel bar holder 27 out of relatively heavy wire stock. The combination towel and wash cloth storer and holder of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is used in the same manner and has the same advantages as the specific preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 of the drawings.

As will be evident to those skilled in the art, various modifications of this invention can be made, or followed, in the light of this disclosure and discussion, without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure or from the scope of the claim.

I claim:

Means to hold and store wash cloths, towels and the like comprising a portion disposable in an upright position on a vertical surface during use, a plurality of shelf members rigidly attached to said upright portion and projecting outwardly therefrom, said shelf members being unadjustably spaced and substantially parallel, two adjacent ones of said shelf members being spaced apart a distance to snugly receive and hold a cloth towel in folded condition and spaced apart a distance less than two other adjacent ones of said shelf members, said lastnamed adjacent shelf members spaced apart a distance to snugly receive and hold a cloth towel larger than said firstnamed cloth towel, said upright portion including spaced upright sides, a mounting plate spanning said sides near the lower ends thereof and above the lowermost shelf member of said plurality and having an opening therethrough between said sides adapted to receive a screw or the like, a horizontally elongated loop spaced below the lowermost shelf member and projecting laterally for substantial distances beyond opposite sides of the shelf members to serve as a support for a used wash cloth or towel, an upright loop extension carried by said elongated loop at the rear side thereof and having a rearwardly offset closed upper extremity engageable over the rear side of said lowermost shelf member and engageable rearwardly of said mounting plate and between said sides of the upright portion, whereby said screw engaging through said opening may serve to detachably interlock said upright loop extension between said sides of said upright portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 575,590 Brightman Jan. 19, 1897 694,793 Schiele Mar. 4, 1902 953,007 Haller Mar. 22, 1910 1,176,697 Blakeslee Mar. 21, 1916 1,248,760 Wallin Dec. 4, 1917 1,289,086 Baumann Dec. 31, 1918 1,604,400 Fischer Oct. 26, 1926 1,927,353 Thomas Sept. 19, 1933 2,222,831 Bitney Nov. 26, 1940 2,473,908 Rubin June 21, 1949 2,839,202 Arnett June 17, 1958 

